Classpot

St Helena School

Colchester, CO3 3LESecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2024
Progress 8
-0.31
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
122 1st-choice / 186 places
Ranking
#2,274
of 3,141 nationally

About St Helena School

St Helena School is a popular choice among local families, with 571 applications for 186 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.07. Of those, 122 families put it as their first preference, which suggests a solid reputation within the Colchester community. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Serena Kay. It currently accommodates 987 pupils, just shy of its 1000-capacity, and 29.2% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school retained its Good rating overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding — a notable upgrade from the previous Good inspection in 2017, where leadership was also rated Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressSheepen Road, Colchester, Colchester, CO3 3LE
HeadteacherSerena Kay
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils987
Free School Meals (FSM)29.2%
School Capacity987 / 1,000 (99% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

30 Jan 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Astro TurfTennis CourtsSports HallGymnasiumScience LabsDining HallTheatreArt StudiosPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

NetballHockeyMartial ArtsRoundersFootballDance

Clubs & Activities

ChessDebateCodingFilm ClubEco ClubBook ClubModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Helena School

St Helena School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.